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lauracollins096's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infertility, Eating disorder, and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming and Fatphobia
naomiameliarose's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Every time I read Alderton’s work my body image gets worse. Really weird sections of the book dedicated to pro disordered eating content. Felt totally cheap and having read her memoir would have expected more. Made me feel very gen z - hating - millennial which is unlike me even though I do hang out with older people for clout.
The story didn’t seem new or with a new spin. But got through it quickly. Will hope for disorderesque trigger warnings on her works in the future.
The story didn’t seem new or with a new spin. But got through it quickly. Will hope for disorderesque trigger warnings on her works in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
cassidy_rain's review against another edition
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
“I wonder where she is now- I imagine her doing her long night-time skincare routine or getting a taxi home or doing an impassioned rant in a pub somewhere with her third glass of wine in her hand. And then I say goodbye to her.”
Hey Alexa, play 7 things I hate about you by Miley Cyrus.
I really wanted to love this, but feel indifferent. Good Material is a story about heartbreak mainly, but also falling out of love. It is written from MMC Andy’s perspective, navigating life after a break-up from longtime girlfriend, Jen. Jen was the one who initiated the split and Andy does not cope with the news well.
I found the pacing to be quite slow and the entire thing pretty forgettable. I didn’t find any of the characters overly likable, though I will say that I found them refreshing! The overall premise is a unique take and sort of flipped script on a breakup.
I did really enjoy the author’s writing style and voice. You really understand Andy; what he’s going through and why he’s behaving in the manner he is. It almost feels like you’re reading his diary. Even though parts feel whiny, it’s refreshing to see a male character experiencing these different emotions and “madness” of heartbreak (stories don’t typically focus on this aspect). I think he does end up having good character growth by the end of the story. The ending was great and did leave me feeling satisfied. At first I wasn’t sure if I needed to know Jen’s side of the story or if it would feel too repetitive- but I think it was done really well to wrap everything up. It was nice to understand where she was coming from, after only getting Andy’s perspective. As a reader you tend to think one way about Jen, because you’re only seeing Andy’s heartbroken and, sometimes irrational, viewpoints. This definitely helped me understand her as a more complex (rather than cliche) character and provided some much needed context to Andy’s perspective. And I did love her independence as well! I’m happy she didn’t have to compromise on that at the end of the day.
“And I know he was telling the truth. He would have loved me unquestioningly and stubbornly forever. And I don’t know if I wanted to be loved like that.”
Hey Alexa, play 7 things I hate about you by Miley Cyrus.
I really wanted to love this, but feel indifferent. Good Material is a story about heartbreak mainly, but also falling out of love. It is written from MMC Andy’s perspective, navigating life after a break-up from longtime girlfriend, Jen. Jen was the one who initiated the split and Andy does not cope with the news well.
I found the pacing to be quite slow and the entire thing pretty forgettable. I didn’t find any of the characters overly likable, though I will say that I found them refreshing! The overall premise is a unique take and sort of flipped script on a breakup.
I did really enjoy the author’s writing style and voice. You really understand Andy; what he’s going through and why he’s behaving in the manner he is. It almost feels like you’re reading his diary. Even though parts feel whiny, it’s refreshing to see a male character experiencing these different emotions and “madness” of heartbreak (stories don’t typically focus on this aspect). I think he does end up having good character growth by the end of the story. The ending was great and did leave me feeling satisfied. At first I wasn’t sure if I needed to know Jen’s side of the story or if it would feel too repetitive- but I think it was done really well to wrap everything up. It was nice to understand where she was coming from, after only getting Andy’s perspective. As a reader you tend to think one way about Jen, because you’re only seeing Andy’s heartbroken and, sometimes irrational, viewpoints. This definitely helped me understand her as a more complex (rather than cliche) character and provided some much needed context to Andy’s perspective. And I did love her independence as well! I’m happy she didn’t have to compromise on that at the end of the day.
“And I know he was telling the truth. He would have loved me unquestioningly and stubbornly forever. And I don’t know if I wanted to be loved like that.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, and Eating disorder
mads_jpg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I think this book may have been advertised wrong, because I went in to this book STOKED for the premise of a man trying to figure out why his girlfriend dumped him. In the prime time of people discussing weaponised incompetence and men doing the bare minimum, I really expected this to be an interesting story about a man slowly realising all the ways he mistreated his partner. But it honestly wasn't.
The book is mostly just a critique of how men aren't very good at emotionally supporting each other through events like breakups and the general shittiness of being dumped. But that's pretty much it, he doesn't really make any revelations or grow a lot as a character. Maybe that's the point, since that's the case for most men like him in reality, but that's not as interesting to me.
Ironically, the best part of the book is the final chapter from Jen's perspective. I think this book would've really benefitted from either alternating between them, or being solely from her view, because she was far more interesting than Andy.
I also hated the whole side plot about him dating a 23 year old, the book was definitely critical of it, but not enough in my opinion.
Overall it was still an alright book, I read it very quickly and it flowed well, but I think the advertised premise was a lot more interesting than the execution.
If you want a book with a similar premise but slightly better execution, Out of Love by Hazel Hayes plays out a relationship in reverse, starting with the breakup and ending with the day they met, to me it was much more impactful.
The book is mostly just a critique of how men aren't very good at emotionally supporting each other through events like breakups and the general shittiness of being dumped. But that's pretty much it, he doesn't really make any revelations or grow a lot as a character. Maybe that's the point, since that's the case for most men like him in reality, but that's not as interesting to me.
I also hated the whole side plot about him dating a 23 year old, the book was definitely critical of it, but not enough in my opinion.
Overall it was still an alright book, I read it very quickly and it flowed well, but I think the advertised premise was a lot more interesting than the execution.
If you want a book with a similar premise but slightly better execution, Out of Love by Hazel Hayes plays out a relationship in reverse, starting with the breakup and ending with the day they met, to me it was much more impactful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Alcohol, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Cursing
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Eating disorder, Medical content, Stalking, Abandonment, Misogyny, and Pandemic/Epidemic
kirstym25's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug use
Minor: Eating disorder
beaingleby's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder
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